Diversity Equity Inclusion / Fair Housing Committee

As housing challenges continue to impact families and communities across the Bay Area, the need for education, collaboration, and action has never been greater. Join us on Thursday, September 10, 2026, for the 2026 Bay Area DEI Symposium, where real estate professionals, housing advocates, policymakers, and community leaders will come together to explore ways to expand access to housing and create more pathways to homeownership.

July is Disability Pride Month, a worldwide celebration of people with disabilities, their identities, culture, resilience and contributions to society. Originated in the United States, this month-long event commemorates the passage of the landmark Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in July 1990. At SAMCAR, we take this opportunity to acknowledge a remarkable colleague from the Silicon Valley Association of REALTORS (SILVAR), Karen Trolan. In 2009, Trolan, a SILVAR past president, real estate manager and mother of three was piloting her family's Cessna out of the Truckee airport on Labor Day Weekend when the plane crashed. Her life changed in a moment. Trolan became paraplegic. From that day forward her activities revolved around months of rehab and learning a new way of living, but her pain and injuries didn't stop her. Trolan went on to write a book about her experience, "I CAN STILL DO IT!: The Unstoppable Spirit of a Plane Crash Survivor", and goes on speaking engagements telling her story. We are honored to share Trolan's story in a republished profile "Karen Trolan on Overcoming the Impossible" written by former SILVAR Public Affairs Director Rose Meily in 2023.

June is LGBTQ+ Pride Month -- a time to honor the history, achievements, and commitment to diversity and inclusion of LGBTQ+ communities. At SAMCAR, we join the California Association of REALTORS (C.A.R.) in proudly celebrating the efforts that these communities champion every day. Supporting Pride isn't just about visibility -- it's about fostering inclusion, community, and connection. In particular, we'd like to take this opportunity to highlight one of our valued partners, the LGBTQ+ Real Estate Alliance...

In May, we celebrate AAPI (Asian American Pacific Islander) Heritage Month across the country. At SAMCAR, we take this opportunity to recognize our Realtor member, Alan Louie, who was named Member of the Year at the 2024 AREAA (Asian Real Estate Association of America) National Conference. Read more about how Alan Louie earned this prestigious acknowledgement and the valuable work AREAA does to support the real estate industry, community and more.

March is Women's History Month, a time to honor women's resilience, achievements, and contributions throughout history. We take this opportunity to remember SAMCAR's first woman president, Marianne Zanone Rush, and her enduring impact on the association through her leadership, mentorship, dedication and generosity.

GUEST PERSPECTIVE: SAMCAR Diversity Equity Inclusion / Fair Housing Committee Chair, Michelle Velez, shares a guest perspective about why DEI matters in real estate and the work the committee focuses on in order to foster inclusivity and belonging in the association and real estate industry.